About this Site

Emilie Davis was an African-American woman living in Philadelphia during the U.S. Civil War. This website is a transcription of Emilie’s three pocket diaries for the years 1863, 1864, and 1865. In them, she recounts black Philadelphians’ celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, nervous excitement during the battle of Gettysburg, and their collective mourning of President Lincoln. The diary allows readers to experience the war in real time, as events unfolded for Civil War Americans. Read More...

Thursday, January 22, 1863. very dull Nellie and i went out shoping she bought a dress and i cut it out for her lizzie stoped at our house and staid untill it was time to go to the lecture we went to the Friday 23 lecture it was very good not many out owing to [...]

Friday, February 6, 1863. he lectured well very few there owing to the weather it very unfanevable [unfathomable] it was raining very fast when i came home egerton cam home with but I was home a few minute Saturday 7 this afternoon it is a beutiful day as warm as it was Colie Sarah Mary [...]

Wednesday, February 18, 1863. it is very unpleasent to day it is my birthday nevertheless i feel thankful i have bin spard so long and if i should be spard in future i will try and spend my Thursday 19 time more Profitable very unpleasent day Nellie and i went out shoping muslins are frightfuly [...]

Thursday, March 5, 1863. The first clear Thursday we have had for som time sue was in this morning i Paid a visit to Joneses to day Nellie we stoped at aunt Janes then went to the lecture after Friday 6 The wich i went to the fair Dave cam home with me lamind stoped [...]

Sunday, March 8, 1863. very rainy day i went to Church in the mor’ng mr gibbs was sick consequncely mr white held forth very few out neither of the girls were out there cousin died this morning Monday 9 Tomy came up and spent the afternoon i spent a very lonsome evening very fine day [...]

Wednesday, March 11, 1863. it being so stormy hannah brown stoped to see me to day my side has bin very troubelsom every since mondy the huctchinsons give a concert to Thursday 12 night to is one of [...] hes one day as one minut it is clear the next it is snowing Nellie and [...]

Tuesday, March 17, 1863. last evening Vincent looked perfectly [...] we went in Fred Duglass lectures to night meeting at Stills mr gibbs was down in the room but did not Wednesday 18 take any part in the meeting barker cam up for Nellie the hutchinsons give a concert next Thurs day night for the [...]

Monday, March 23, 1863. no one cam up to see me very fine day I was up to see Celestine and hannah Cely is quite sick again in Nellie and i went down to school we had a very nice school Tuesday 24 meeting at mr Decriss i did not go very stormy Nellie or [...]

Thursday, March 26, 1863. very stormy to day i sold all my tickets Nell and rachel and went to the concert it was good every one seemed Pleased barker cam home Friday 27 with me and Vincent with rachel and Ellen I felt quite Displeased with Vincent i have not seen Nellie to day mary [...]

Thursday, May 28, 1863. lovely day liz and i went out visiting we went to call on miss fraler and mrs reed then went down to the [...] ing i went out to see mrs harris then went Friday 29 down to the concert it came off very well i have not heard a word from [...]